French presidential hopeful Marine Le Pen sentenced to jail --A Paris court has barred the right-wing politician from taking part in the 2027 election | 31 March 2025 | French and foreign politicians are reacting to sentences handed down on Monday by a Paris court in a case against the right-wing National Rally party (RN) and several of its most prominent figures, including Marine Le Pen, the party's former leader who currently heads its parliamentary faction. Le Pen and others have been convicted of embezzling EU funds intended for political assistants and face a variety of sentences, including a five-year ban on seeking public office and two years of house arrest. Several other defendants have also been sentenced to prison terms of various lengths. RN is the single largest party in the French parliament and the sentencing has sent a shockwave through the country's and wider European politics.